Nigeria’s political landscape is bracing for a major shake-up as two opposition governors — Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Douye Diri of Bayelsa — prepare to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Their formal declaration is expected to take place next week, barring any last-minute changes.

Sources within both parties confirmed that talks have reached an advanced stage, with Enugu and Bayelsa gearing up for what could be the most significant wave of political realignment since 1999. While the identity of a third governor reportedly involved in the defection remains undisclosed, insiders say the move is part of a broader strategy by the APC to consolidate its influence across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In Enugu, developments within the state’s political circle suggest that Governor Mbah’s move enjoys wide acceptance among key stakeholders. The APC’s National Working Committee, in preparation for his entry, dissolved the Enugu State Working Committee on Thursday and installed a caretaker leadership. Party insiders say the caretaker team will midwife Mbah’s smooth integration into the ruling party’s structure.

Confirming the development, the APC caretaker chairman in Enugu, Dr. Ben Nwoye, said the governor’s defection was no longer in doubt. “Governor Mbah is joining us with the entire PDP structure — all 260 ward councillors, 24 state lawmakers, National Assembly members, and the state executive. This will redefine politics in the South-East,” he said at the caretaker committee’s inauguration in Abuja.

The defection, expected to be formally announced on October 14, is seen as a historic turning point for Enugu politics. For the first time in 25 years, the PDP’s dominance in the state could crumble, paving the way for APC’s rise in the region. APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, hailed the impending move as “a bold step toward uniting the South-East with Nigeria’s ruling coalition,” urging the new party members to work toward total victory in 2027.

Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu, described the defection as a political rebirth for the South-East, declaring that “the region will no longer play from the sidelines.” Party strategists believe Mbah’s entry could spark similar moves in Anambra and Abia, effectively giving APC its strongest foothold in the South-East since the return of democracy.

In Bayelsa, Governor Diri’s move has been the subject of intense political speculation for months. Multiple sources within the state confirm that he has held private consultations with former President Goodluck Jonathan and several Bayelsa elders before reaching a final decision. Though some members of the National Assembly from the state — including Senator Henry Seriake Dickson and three House of Representatives members — oppose the plan, insiders say the governor has resolved to proceed with the switch.

A Bayelsa lawmaker who requested anonymity said: “The governor is going ahead. Consultations are over. Most members of the House of Assembly are moving with him, even if not everyone will follow.”

However, the governor’s spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, said he had no official confirmation of Diri’s planned defection, adding that any formal announcement would come directly from his principal.

For the APC, the expected entry of Mbah and Diri comes on the heels of recent high-profile defections from the PDP in the South-South and South-East. The party is reportedly planning a grand reception for both governors, similar to the ceremonies held for Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno earlier in the year.

Close aides to Governor Mbah cited three key reasons for his decision to quit the PDP — the party’s continued disregard for the South-East, its refusal to ratify Sunday Udeh-Okoye as national secretary despite regional backing, and the deepening internal crises that have plagued the opposition in recent months.

The PDP’s failure to resolve the leadership tussle between Udeh-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu — who enjoys the support of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike — has reportedly left many South-East leaders disillusioned. Mbah himself had warned in June that the region might reconsider its membership if the party failed to “put its house in order.”

Political observers say the defections, if confirmed, will not only deal a heavy blow to the PDP but could also reshape Nigeria’s political map ahead of the 2027 elections. For the APC, it represents a strategic breakthrough in regions where the party has long struggled to gain traction.